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Minister apologizes for 'tasteless' listeria jokes

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unnerved some public servants at the height of the listeriosis crisis by resorting to gallows humour during a conference call about a public health scare that has now killed 17 people.

By Steve RennieTHE CANADIAN PRESS

Wed., Sept. 17, 2008

OTTAWA–Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unnerved some public servants at the height of the listeriosis crisis by resorting to gallows humour during a conference call about a public health scare that has now killed 17 people.

Ritz was also deeply concerned about the political fallout from the listeriosis crisis as the deadly disease claimed more victims in the days before the federal election was called, according to sources in on the crisis call last month.

But that concern apparently didn't stop Ritz from cracking wise while scientists, bureaucrats and political staff listened in on the Aug. 30th call.

Sources who took notes during the call said Ritz fretted about the political dangers of the crisis, before quipping:

"This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts."

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The disease was linked to cold cuts from Maple Leaf Meats.

And when told about a new death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz said:

"Please tell me it's (Liberal MP) Wayne Easter."

Easter is the Liberal critic shadowing Ritz's Agriculture Department.

About 30 people participated in the Sunday morning conference call that began after 10 a.m. EDT. Participants included scientists, senior bureaucrats and political staff.

Others on the call included communications staff from the prime minister's office, most of Ritz's staff, Health Minister Tony Clement's policy and communications advisers, and senior public servants including deputy health minister Morris Rosenberg.

Officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provided updates on the disease during the conversation.

The sources who spoke to The Canadian Press did so on the condition of anonymity. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government has been relentless in searching for and punishing anyone thought to have provided embarrassing information to reporters.

Ritz emailed an apology that he intended to deliver publicly in suburban Ottawa later Wednesday.

"It was a highly stressful time," he said in prepared remarks. ``Many people were working countless hours and attending countless meetings to keep on top of the situation. In that context, I made a couple of spur of moment offhand comments. In particular, one about my official opposition critic, whom I have already called to apologize.

"My comments were tasteless and completely inappropriate. I apologize unreservedly."

But Ritz was less contrite when he was asked about his comments after his flight from Saskatoon touched down at the Ottawa airport Wednesday afternoon.

A bearded man with Ritz jostled with journalists as the agriculture minister bee-lined through the terminal to a waiting sedan. At one point the man grabbed a reporter's recorder and jabbed at the off button.

For two minutes Ritz stared dead ahead as he was peppered with questions about the conference call. His only words were clipped.

"Not right now, guys," he said.

Then: "Get out of my face, please."

Listeria can cause listeriosis, a food-borne illness that causes high fever, headache, neck stiffness and nausea that is of particular concern to the elderly, pregnant women and the infirm.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Ritz's remarks were beyond the pale.

"It was clearly inappropriate," said Kory Teneycke. "It was intended as a joke, but some things are not appropriate to joke about."

Teneycke later added: “A resignation was not offered and none was asked for.”

Earlier Wednesday, Ritz had little to say when asked about his comments as his flight from Saskatoon touched down at the Ottawa airport.

"I've already called for Mr. Ritz's resignation over his handling of the listeriosis outbreak and his failure to tell the truth to Canadians about the government's role in it," Easter said. "I could never imagine he would show this kind of insensitivity. This is just one more reason he needs to be dismissed.

"I don't care what he said about me, but 17 people have died. That is no joking matter," Easter said.

He said Ritz's callous comments were all the more deplorable in light of an editorial that appeared this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal confirming "government policy errors helped bring about this epidemic."

Easter said when the crisis first broke, Ritz misled Canadians about changes the Harper government made that resulted in inspectors spending less time inspecting meat plants and more time doing paperwork.

Easter said Ritz's comments follow a similar comment by Health Minister Tony Clement, who while attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver, joked about the outbreak at a cocktail party.

"I'm Health Minister Tony Clement, and I have to say I approved this food," Easter said, citing a Toronto Star, August 28, 2008 article.

"You should never joke about people's lives. There seems to be a pattern here," said the Liberal senator, who is helping out on partryt leader Stéphane Dion's campaign.

NDP Leader Jack Layton spoke strongly against Ritz's comments.

"I think the prime minister has to fire Gerry Ritz as minister immediately and he has to fire him as a candidate in this election," Layton told reporters in Toronto. "This is totally unacceptable."

Layton was critical of how Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ritz have handled the outbreak.

He said Ritz has shown a "cavalier attitude" toward the crisis since the beginning.

"I don't see anything funny about it," he said when asked whether it was his response to the outbreak or the "joke" that had prompted him to call for his being fired.

"I don't see anything funny about what Mr. Ritz said," he added.

So far, 17 deaths have been linked to the recall of food products from a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto. There have been 14 deaths in Ontario, and one each in British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick.

Sources say the Privy Council Office requested and chaired the conference call. This call was chaired by Daniel Jean, the deputy secretary to cabinet in the Privy Council Office.

That office, headed by Kevin Lynch, co-ordinates government policy and harnesses that policy to the formidable power of the public service.

The conversation on Aug. 30 began with talk of the mounting death toll and trends in the spread of the disease.

Sources say Ritz began the call by asking: "Are there any more bombs out there?" – implying any politically damaging news.

But discussion soon shifted to communications and how best to frame the government's message.

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